Vintage ephemera holds a sort of magic. It captures a little bit of time past, sometimes bringing nostalgic memories along with it. I am always amazed at the items that have lasted so long, most especially when they are in pristine condition. Replicas aren’t bad every now and again either. The only problem I have ever had is whether or not to use it on my layouts.
The question is how to use it. Do you take the label or item at face value? There is merit in this but it can limit how and when you use it. Is there a symbolic meaning behind it or is it just pretty? There is not necessarily right or wrong answers to these questions. The answers may, in fact, be different for everyone. Answering them for yourself can be key in how and when you can use vintage ephemera on a layout.
Literally Speaking
To the right is a sample cards for fabric. It talks about the quality of the fabric and how wonderful the fabric is for making pants. When I saw this sample card, I took it at face value. It’s main topic is pants. The card itself isn’t necessarily pretty and it’s quite large in size. I don’t really care for the image of the man’s head. That being said, It does have a nice spot in the middle that can work as a frame. I could possibly use it to document a story about my husband’s work clothes or my son’s wardrobe. The card is fairly neutral which will make it easy to add other patterned paper or supplies.
I ended up using the card for it’s literal meaning. It’s all about pants, so it worked well to document just how much my son hated panted when he was a toddler. As I layered patterned paper over the card, I made sure to leave the image of the pants and information about them slightly showing. I used layers and a title to cover the image of the man’s head, which I didn’t care for. The card itself lent to a nice block design. I machine stitched blocks and scraps of the patterned paper individually before tucking them into parts of the layout.
I wanted to make the layout feel like a stack of papers. I printed off two additional copies of the photo, then created me own custom clip. I added some small rub-ons to the office clip and then glued the photo packet onto the stack. I was able to create two small banner-like pieces from the manufacturer’s strip of the patterned paper.
The vintage ephemera really helps to support my story. I don’t think I have any patterned paper featuring pants in my collection. Using Ephemera in a literal sense can help supplement your supplies. Some patterned papers that feature a theme are very specific as to the color palette and style. Using the vintage card allowed me to explore more options within my supplies.
Figuratively Speaking
This next piece of vintage ephemera is roughly the same size as the fabric swatch card. It’s an old piece of bank stationary. Like the fabric swatch, it’s relatively neutral which makes it a good candidate for mixing in with a wide variety of supply choices. Taken for face value, I could tell stories about saving money or perhaps buying a big ticket item such as a house or a car. I would like to take a more figurative approach though. Banking is all about trust, saving, and investing. In fact, the word trust is included in the name of this particular bank. All of these concepts make this ephemera perfect for documenting school, love,achieving goals and friendship.
I chose to document a first impression that would later grow to become a strong bond. In 2004, we found some orphaned kitten in the park. Their mother had been killed in a storm and they were in need of a home. Their eyes had just barely opened. My son was sitting on the ground, looking fr the first time ever at a new kitten. I am pretty sure my son was one of the first humans this kitten had ever seen. A definite big first impression for both of them.
The banking stationary symbolically supports the concept of trust and the growth of love and friendship. The cream paper adds a sense or nostalgia and warmth while the open portion of the stationary allow me to easily build and design the layout in virtually any fashion I choose.
Whether you choose it for it’s symbolic meaning or take it at face value, vintage ephemera adds a distinct feel to your layout. It’s often unique and not readily available which truly makes your layout even more special.
Tips for Using Vintage Ephemera
– Consider the size of the ephemera when creating your layout design. Look for ways in which to cover unwanted areas. Some portions of the ephemera can be used to support a specific type of page design or may form a natural frame for photos or journaling.
-Neutral ephemera can easily be worked into just about any selection of materials. If the ephemera has a specific color palette, look for ways it can add contrast and tension or choose your supplies based on it’s color palette.
-Ephemera may be delicate. You can reinforce it with cardstock if necessary, but expect that, from time to time, it may bend or wrinkle unexpectedly. Regard any unexpected wrinkles, tears or folds as additional character for your layout.
– When considering ephemera, try to think of all the different meaning it could hold for you. Make a list of possible stories you can document and then take it from there. In the case of vintage ephemera, I often find the photos to accompany it as a second step rather than printing photos and then adding ephemera.
-Some labels or items may be so nuetral in theme that can work just fine as a filler items in the scrapbook layering process. Not all ephemera is filled with symbolic or literal meaning.